Ball racket with bumper guard

ABSTRACT

A new type of ball racket with bumper guard comprises a racket frame, a racket face, a shaft and a handle. The bumper guard is affixed on the curved section of the racket frame, which surrounds the ball racket face having a plurality of holes on the ball-hitting area, and then two sides of the frame converge to form the shaft. The end of the shaft has a handle. The design of the ball racket with bumper guard can protect the racket frame from many scratches and bumps against the wall or the ground during ball play. This not only can help extend the service life of a normal racket, but also reduces the chance of wrist injury for players.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a ball racket with a bumperguard, in particular, a ball racket with protective band affixed on theouter rim of the racket head.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts

[0004] People around the world are enthusiastic about sports. Every nowand then someone comes up with new ideas and invents a new ball gamewhich hopefully will attract other people to join in and make it apopular game. Now a new ball game called Paddle Ball is graduallygathering popularity in Europe and the U.S. The rules of this game aremore flexible than many conventional ones. It is played like squash inthat players can hit the ball rebounding from the wall or the ground,but it is also like handball with goal nest in transparent boxes.

[0005] The racket for playing this ball game is characterized by athicker racket frame as compared to those of ordinary rackets. Thecenter of the racket head, the racket face, has holes evenly spaced outcovering the ball-hitting area. The curved racket frame surrounds theouter perimeter of the racket face and then both sides converge on theshoulder section to form the shaft, and at the end of the shaft is thehandle.

[0006] However, these ball rackets have had some weaknesses incompetitive matches. Players often choose to hit the ball reboundingfrom walls or the ground as these actions are allowed during the ballgame. When players are too concentrated in the game, they often swingtheir rackets by reflective response without caring much about adequatespace clearance. As a result of such mis-hits, their rackets are oftenscratched or bumped against the wall or the ground repeatedly. Theseaccumulated damages to the racket frame could shorten the service lifeof a normal racket, and more seriously, these violent impacts couldcause wrist injuries to players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a ballracket affixed with a bumper guard to protect the outer rim of theracket head from scratches or bumps in ball play, and it can help extendthe useful life of a racket.

[0008] The protective band in accordance with the present invention isreceived along the perimeter band on the outer rim of the racket head oralong the curved section of the racket frame. The curved racket framesurrounds the outer perimeter of the racket face, and then both sidesconverge on the shoulder section to form a shaft. Toward the end of theshaft is the handle. The center of the racket face has a plurality ofholes evenly spaced out and covering the entire ball-hitting area.

[0009] The bumper guard is formed with at least one layer ofimpact-absorbing material or rubber material discontinuously affixed onthe outer rim of the racket head. It is divided up into multiplesegments, and the bottom surface of the protective band has elevatedcolumns for fitting against the corresponding channels found on theouter rim of the racket frame to form a self-locking structure.

[0010] The features and structure of the present invention will be moreclearly understood when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the racketface in accordance with the invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a diagram of a player holding a ball racket inpreparation of a stroke; and

[0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of a secondembodiment of the ball racket of the present invention for the secondpreferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball racket in accordancewith the present comprises a racket frame (10), a racket face (14),collectively forming a racket head (unnumbered), a shaft (12), and ahandle (13). A bumper guard (20) is affixed on the outer rim of theracket head, or along the curved section of the racket frame (10), on anarrow perimeter band (11). The racket frame (10) is arranged tosurround the racket face (14) and then the two sides converge on theshoulder section to form the shaft (12). Toward the end of the shaft(12) is the handle (13). The racket face (14) in the center of theracket head has a plurality of holes (15) evenly spaced out and coveringthe entire the ball-hitting area. The profile of the racket frame (10)on the outer perimeter of the racket face (14) is slightly higher thanthe center portion; that is the racket frame (10) is generally thickerthan the racket face (14).

[0016] The bumper guard (20) is a protective band made of at least onelayer of impact-absorbing material or rubber material to be affixeddiscontinuously on the outer rim of the racket head or racket frame(10). It is divided into a plurality of segments with elevated columnson the bottom surface for fitting against the corresponding channelsfound on the outer rim of the racket frame (10) to form a self-lockingstructure.

[0017] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the design of the racket face(14) with holes (15) enables better control of the racket by players(30). These holes (15) allow air to pass through the racket face (14)thereby reducing air pressure built up in a stroke or follow through.Holding the ball racket and hitting the ball (31) with the center of theracket face (14), a player (30) can choose either to return the balldirectly to the opponent or use a rebound angle from the wall or groundto make a return shot. In the course of the competitive game, players(30) who are often too concentrated in the game, often swing the racketby reflective response without caring much about adequate clearance. Asa result of mis-hits, their rackets are often scratched or bumpedagainst the wall or ground repeatedly. These accumulated damages to theracket will shorten the service life of a normal racket, and moreseverely, these violent impacts may cause wrist injury to the players.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of another ballracket of the present invention for the second preferred embodiment,wherein the bumper guard (40) can be completely wrapped around the outerrim of the racket frame (10) along its curved outline so that the bumperguard (40) can protect the racket frame (10) with even better results.

[0019] In practice, the bumper guard (20) has a plurality of elevatedcolumns on the bottom surface, and the perimeter band (11) on the racketframe (10) has corresponding channels on the surface for fitting againstthe elevated columns to form a self-locking structure.

[0020] The present design of the bumper guard (20) completely covers theperimeter band (11) on the outer rim of the racket head, such that itcan protect the racket frame (10) from many scratches and bumps againstthe wall or the ground. This not only can help extend the service lifeof a normal racket, but also reduces the chance of wrist injury forplayers. Since the bumper guard (20) can absorb most of the vibrationson impact when the racket hits the hard surface, it can enhance thesafety of the players in a game of Paddle Ball.

[0021] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention is intended to be illustrative only and, under nocircumstances, should the scope of the present invention be sorestricted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball racket with a bumper guard comprising aracket frame with a perimeter band on the outside, a racket face,collectively forming a racket head, a shaft, and a handle, wherein theracket frame surrounds the racket face which has a plurality of holesextending over the ball-hitting surface, and supported by a shaft with ahandle on the end, and a bumper guard is received along the perimeterband of the racket head for protection.
 2. The ball racket with a bumperguard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bumper guard is in the form ofa band with at least one layer to be affixed along the perimeter band onthe racket head.
 3. The ball racket with a bumper guard as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the bumper guard is affixed on a curved section of theracket frame completely covering the perimeter band of the racket head.4. The ball racket with a bumper guard as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe bumper guard is divided up into a plurality of segments to beaffixed discontinuously on the perimeter band.
 5. The ball racket with abumper guard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bumper guard is made ofsoft impact-absorbing material.
 6. The ball racket with a bumper guardas claimed in claim 3, wherein the bumper guard is made of softimpact-absorbing material.
 7. The ball racket with a bumper guard asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the bumper guard is made of softimpact-absorbing material.
 9. The ball racket with a bumper guard asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the bumper guard is made of rubber.
 10. Theball racket with a bumper guard as claimed in claim 6, wherein thebumper guard is made of rubber.
 11. The ball racket with a bumper guardas claimed in claim 7, wherein the bumper guard is made of rubber.